Life preserver

ABSTRACT

A buoyancy device, especially for persons learning to swim in the form of a buoyant ring adapted to be placed over the head of the person and engage the chin and nape of the neck. The ring is either inflatable or of a material lighter than water, and has an inner slit to enable the person to put his hand in it.

United States Patent [1 1 Pfeifer 1 Aug. 7, 1973 LIFE PRESERVER [76] Inventor: Georg Heller, Waldweg 63, Thune,

Germany 7 221 Filed: Aug. 23, 1911 [21] Appl. No.: 173,814

301 Foreign Application Priority um Feb. 24, 197i Germany P M 08 666.8

[52] U.S. CI. 9/345 [51] Int. Cl. B63e 9/08 [58] Field of Selreh 9/345, 340, 329, 9/3l l [56] References Cited f UNITED STATES PATENTS l,400,976 12/1921 Parmele ..9/34s 1,544,672 7/1925 Milbury 9/345 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 273,548 3/1967 Australia 9/345 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney-W. G. Fasse [57] ABSTRACT A buoyancy device, especially for persons learning to swim in the form of a buoyant ring adapted to be placed over the head of the person and engage the chin and nape of the neck. The ring is either inflatable or of a material lighter than water, and has an inner slit to enable the person to put his hand in it.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures urn PRESERVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a live preserver, more specifically to a buoyancy device especially for persons learning to swim. The device may be constructed so as to be inflatable or may be made of a specific material which is lighter than water. The device is attached to the body of the person.

Known buoyancy devices of the above-mentioned type are, for example, chains made of cork or hollow bodies connected by strips and tied around the body of the person in the water. The so-called swimming belts obstruct movement in the water, impede the movements of the learner or swimmer and do not guarantee a satisfactory degree of safety since the learners head can easily sink below the water if he loses his sense of balance, for example, in connection with accidents while water skiing.

Bouyancy equipment has also been designed in the form of bathing costu'mes. These bathing costumes were lined with thin inflatable tubes which were intended to provide buoyancy. Such bathing costumes are not suitable for wide use on account of high cost. Above all, only womens bathing costumes cover areas of the body in the proximity of the head and even then there is no assurance that the head and especially the nose and mouth will stay above the water. Mans bathing trunks are even more dangerous since bathingv trunks provide buoyancy only in the lower body area and the head can thus easily sink below the water so that this buoyancy cannot be regarded as safe.

Buoyancy devices are also known which are inflatable cushions placed about the upper arm of a person. With these devices there is a danger that the blood stream in the lower arms and hands is affected by the pressure of the inflated cushions. Such cushions on the upper arm also impede swimming movements.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention the life preserver is shaped as a ring adapted to be placed about the neck of a person in the fashion of a collar which fits closely about the neck but without pressure.

A buoyancy ring which is shaped as taught by this invention and placed about the neck of the swimmer or learner reliably assures that the person's head is kept above the water. The movement of the arms is not impeded and progress through the water is not hindered.

The present ring-shaped buoyancy device is especially useful for learning to swim. If the learners body is calmly floating in a vertical position in the water a slight pressure is felt below the chin and in the nape of the neck thus permitting the learner to sense the supporting action of the ring. This pressure is very slight because the human body is very nearly statically balanced in the water and does not sink so that only a light load affects the ring. Any appropriate movement, for example, a swimming movement disturbs the state of equilibrium and the human body assumes an inclined position or even horizontal position thereby experiencing an uplift whereby the body is raised slightly. This stage is momentarily detected by a reduction of the pressure with which the head has rested against the ring. In this way the learner or swimmer discovers which movements ensure buoyancy and propulsion. Since the body is kept in perfect equilibrium in the water by means of the present buoyancy device, swimming instructors can instruct a greater number of pupils at one time and can allow them to practice on their own at their pace in the water itself. It is not necessary for the pupils to help each other during practice as has hitherto been the case.

It is preferable to construct the buoyancy device according to the invention, in different sizes to flt different neck sizes.

A slit is provided in the ring to allow the ring to stretch when it is pulled over the head. The slit extends from the inner edge of the ring opening outwardly in a radial direction as far as the ring has to be expanded to allow the head to pass through it.

It is advantageous if a part of the inner ring edge is contoured to fit the chin.

The present bouyan'cy device may be made of foam material with closed cells or alternatively as an inflatable hollow body.

In the case of the inflatable version it is advantageous to provide two separate cavities with their own valves whereby preferably each cavity extends from one slit to the next.

BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION In order that the invention will be clearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to-the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a person in the water using the buoyancy device according to one embodiment of the invention;

, FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the life preserver or swimming-buoyancy device constructed according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a further refinement of the buoyancy device according to FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a person 1 in a perpendicular or rest position in the water. The weight of the body is very nearly in equilibrium as a result of the negligible difference between the specific weight of water and that of the human body. In any event, the head 2 will be kept above the water by the present life preserver 3 which counteracts the slight tendency to sink.

For example, the life preserver 3 is constructed as a closed inflatable ring, extending about the neck of the person 1. The ring 3 is adapted to conform to the neck in such a way that it fits close without exerting too much pressure. FIG. I clearly shows that in the resting position, the chin and neck parts are supported on the ring. The head 2 is thus kept safe above water and cannot sink below the water unless the ring 3 is removed.

The safe feeling of being supported is felt through the gentle pressure of the ring on the head 2.

The dotted lines in FIG. 1 show the person in an inclined position which occurs when the person makes the appropriate movements with his arms or legs. in the course of these movements a force arises which is directed in the sense of the arrow 4 in FIG. 1 and which comprises a propulsion component 6 and a buoyancy component 5. The body of the person 1 is raised slightly above the water by the buoyancy component 5. This is immediately detectable from the reduction of the pressure of the ring 3 on the neck. This possibility of feeling the result of a swimming movement as a buoying-up sensation constitutes a fundemental psychological factor which substantially aids in the learning process.

As shown in the example of H6. 2 the buoyancy device or ring 3 is provided with an inner opening 16. This opening is adapted to conform to the width of the neck. Furthermore, in the embodiments shown, two slits 8 extend radially outwards from the inner edge 7 as far as the aperture 16 requires to be expanded to allow the head 2 to pass through it.

Solid webs 9 extend radially outwardly from the slits 8, to separate the inflatable ring 3 into two separate cavities 10, each of which has its own valve 11. At one point on the circumference of the inner edge 7 is a slightly reduced area 12 where the surface of the ring is contoured to fit the chin.

In the case of the version made of foam rubber ring 3 may have several slits 8.

Referring to FIG. 3, a middle wall 13 divides each cavity into two cavities to form two closed chambers disposed one above the other. One edge is lengthened or formed as a flap 14 by suitable moulding and having at least one eyelet 15, so that small children can be held safely on a line during swimming instruction whereby the line is safely attached to the eyelet.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the apended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a life preserver having a closed flexible buoyant ring with an inner opening sized to elastically fit over the head of a person to a position about the persons neck, the improvement comprising a front ring member and a rear ring member, means for interconnecting said front and rear ring members to each other to provide sub-stantially diametrically opposed slits between the ring members where the ring members are connected to each other, said slits extending radially outwardly from said inner opening partially through the ring members, said front ring member having at least a por tion of reduced diameter substantially intermediate said slits to form a chin rest, said rear ring member having a cross sectional shape larger than said chin rest whereby the rear ring member conforms to the shape of the human neck.

2. The life preserver of claim 1, wherein each of said ring member is comprised of a separately inflatable cavity, further comprising separate inflating valves for said cavities.

3. The life preserver of claim 2, further comprising acentral wall in each said cavity, dividing the respective cavity into separate upper and lower closed chambers.

4. The life preserver of claim 1, wherein said buoyant ring has at least one flap extending from the outer circumference thereof, said flap having an eyelet therein.

- i i i t i 

1. In a life preserver having a closed flexible buoyant ring with an inner opening sized to elastically fit over the head of a person to a position about the persons neck, the improvement comprising a front ring member and a rear ring member, means for interconnecting said front and rear ring members to each other to provide sub-stantially diametrically opposed slits between the ring members where the ring members are connected to each other, said slits extending radially outwardly from said inner opening partially through the ring members, said front ring member having at least a portion of reduced diameter substantially intermediate said slits to form a chin rest, said rear ring member having a cross sectional shape larger than said chin rest whereby the rear ring member conforms to the shape of the human neck.
 2. The life preserver of claim 1, wherein each of said ring member is comprised of a separately inflatable cavity, further comprising separate inflating valves for said cavities.
 3. The life preserver of claim 2, further comprising a central wall in each said cavity, dividing the respective cavity into separate upper and lower closed chambers.
 4. The life preserver of claim 1, wherein said buoyant ring has at least one flap extending from the outer circumference thereof, said flap having an eyelet therein. 